Illicit cigarette blitz in Fraserburgh and Peterhead

Sean O’Neil

HMRC have seized over 5,000 suspected illicit cigarettes, more than 3.5kg of hand rolling tobacco and a large quantity of cash in the Buchan area.

A 32-year-old man has been charged with the fraudulent evasion of excise duty and VAT after HMRC Officers raided two residential addresses and a business address in Fraserburgh and a residential address in the Peterhead area last week.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “HMRC Officers will continue to work with law enforcement colleagues to stop and disrupt the distribution and supply of illicit tobacco in the North East and beyond.

“This is a trade that harms communities across Scotland and robs UK public services of over £2bn a year.”

The 32-year-old man was detained in the Fraserburgh area.

The blitz follows on from seizures made in the area earlier in the summer, including a haul of 20,000 suspected illicit cigarettes found by Police Scotland.

The HMRC Spokesperson said: “Anyone who suspects cigarettes or tobacco are being illegally produced, smuggled or sold can help us by calling the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.